Auction.com, LLC, recently released its Retail Market Outlook, which offers analysis on market metrics, provided vacancy and rent projections, and reveals the top markets in which to buy and sell retail assets in 2015.

In a combined session of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the manager of the System Open Market Account (SOMA), a meeting was held today to discuss domestic and foreign financial market developments and the Federal Reserve’s Balance Sheet.

Data from the Census Quarterly Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) analysis found that median single-family square floor area increased from 2,445 in Q4 2014 to 2,521 square feet in Q1 2015.

United Guaranty Corporation has promoted Mimi Eaton to be the VP of the strategic accounts team, according to a recent press release. The strategic accounts team serves a large volume of customers by providing them with customer service in the mortgage insurance industry, United Guaranty says. Team members work with leadership of lender customers to create and enhance solutions for borrowers

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services (FSC): Housing and Insurance Subcommittee held a hearing today called “The Future of Housing in America: Oversight of the Rural Housing Service,” according to a memorandum written by the FSC majority staff.

Freddie Mac released its U.S. Economic and Housing Market Outlook for May today, revealing that low mortgage rates kept affordability high in the first quarter of this year for buyers, but housing markets probably will see interest rates increase for the rest of the year.

In a joint announcement, the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD revealed new residential construction statistics for April 2015. This announcement included pertinent information on building permits, housing starts, and housing completions.

W.J. Bradley Mortgage Capital (W.J. Bradley), a privately held mortgage banking firm, recently announced in a press release the promotion of John Sadler to be the company’s chief information officer (CIO).

Credit Plus announced today that it has hired Darleen Aragon, an experienced industry professional as the new regional account executive. Aragon will be offering lenders throughout the U.S. the full range of Credit Plus’ third-party verification tools in her new role.

The April 2015 RE/MAX National Housing Report that surveyed 53 metro areas, revealed that home sales were up by 7 percent from the previous month and 6.5 percent above the mark set in April 2014. Home sales in April were higher than any other April since the report began in 2008.